By Heather Grossmann
DNAinfo News Editor
MANHATTAN — Rev. Al Sharpton called an emergency meeting of black elected officials at Sylvia's in Harlem for Thursday night to discuss how to handle the growing scandals facing Gov. David Paterson and Rep. Charlie Rangel.
"Details are being shaped for a meeting tonight to discuss how to protect health care, education, job creation and crucial issues during the shifting scene in Albany and in Washington, DC," Sharpton spokeswoman Rachel Noerdlinger said in an e-mail.
Noerdlinger said former state Comptroller H. Carl McCall, former Mayor David Dinkins, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Hazel Dukes and other clergy and elected officials will attend the meeting. Sharpton also invited former Tennessee congressman and almost-Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr., but he was unable to attend, Ford's spokesman said.
Harlem's political elite is reeling following Wednesday's news.
Paterson violated state rules when he accepted free World Series tickets from the Yankees tickets and allegedly lied under oath about it.
Rangel announced he would step down from his powerful chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee following an official admonishment from the House Ethics panel and an ongoing investigation.
The recent revelations regarding Paterson's direct interference in a top aide's domestic abuse case have caused a chorus of calls for his resignation.
